Potable gold and method of making same.



Nrrn STATES PATENT tries.

POTABLE GOLD AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 67%,361, dated May 14, 1901.

Application filed March 11, 1899. Serial No. 708,684:- (No specimens.)

T0 at whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERBERT A. RICHARD- SON, of Lowell, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Potable Gold and Processes of Making Same, of which the following is a specificat-ion.

Gold has heretofore been employed as a medicine in various waysas, for instance, in small quantities to cure inebriation. I desire to render it possible to take a larger or a smaller quantity of gold, as desired, without danger of life to the patient.

My process consists of annulling the chlorin in chlorid of gold by association with organic acids and sugarssuch as citric acid, tartaric acid, acids of fruits, orange, lemon, grapej uice,cider, &c.and thus converting the gold into a potable condition with all escharotic properties of the chlorin annulled. In this condition the gold is finely divided and in suspension and can be taken in any quantity internally with impunity.

My method consists in the reduction of gold from its salts in so finely a precipitated condition that the gold remains suspended in the solution as a ruby, Tyrian purple, blood, or blue shade, &c., according to conditions, the characteristic color invariably verging on Tyrian purple. For example, when the percentage of gold is very small the solution is pink; when stronger, crimson; when still stronger, purple.

My invention is based upon the reducing action on the gold of organic acids, sugars, &c. For instance, tartaric acid may be used, or citric acid, cane-sugar, grape-sugar, the tartrates, (Rochelle salt, cream of tartar,) citrates, or the juice of fruits, as before alluded to, also honey, manna, &c.

More specifically, my process consists in making a solution of any of the above materials, heating the same to boiling temperature, and while maintained at this temperature running in slowly a dilute solution of chlorid of gold, the latter being preferably introduced drop by drop, and thereby transformed to an allotropic form, no longer being chlorid of gold. Soon after the first few drops of the gold solution enter the acid solution the whole turns pink, then crimson, gradually becoming darker and darker, due to the suspension therein of the exceedingly finely divided gold, and my invention is best carried out by employing such a vehicle for the gold as will maintain the greatest amount thereof in sus pension. For this purpose diluted honey is very satisfactory, this acting also as a syrup well adapted for the market, the bulk being small and capable of further dilution according to the pleasure of the consumer.

It is desirable that the gold should be held permanently in suspension in the solution, and therefore the proportion of gold will be limited according to the character of the solution, honey accommodating the largest percentage of gold of those vehicles mentioned above.

My solution of gold prepared as above explained can be taken inwardly with impunity by the patient, as there is no longer any chlorin present or any caustic properties or effects, and it is of great therapeutical advantage, serving as food, bestowing strength, and at the same time correcting abnormal conditions of nervousness, excitability, &c.

Chlorid of gold is unstable, and for that reason readily yields up its chlorin, which in its turn attacks these susceptible organic compounds-i. a, the organic acids and sugarswhich, being themselves unstable, succumb under the oxidizing action of the chlorin, and in this way the destructive character or nature of the chlorin is expended or made impotent, leaving the gold in suspension in an extremely finely subdivided condition in a suitable vehicle.

Having described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A potable solution of gold, which can be obtained from chlorid of gold and a reducing agent, but which is free from causticity, and is further distinguished by a color verging on Tyrian purple, and having the preparation of gold in permanent suspension, substantially as described.

2. A potable solution of gold which can be obtained from honey and chlorid of gold containing the preparation of gold in permanent suspension therein, the solution having a distinguishing color verging on Tyrian purple, substantially as described.

r 3. The herein-described process of prepar- 1o slowly thereinto, While said solution is at approximately a boiling-point, a weak solution of chlorid of gold, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HERBERT A. RICHARDSON.

Witnesses:

GEO. H. MAXWELL, FREDERICK L. EMERY. 

